Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
341. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that much needed and encouraged returning teachers are waiting two months for a Teaching Council number, meaning they can not be paid; if she will intervene on this given we should be making it as easy as possible for teachers to return home and take up jobs here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21785/24]
View answerUnder the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with the statutory authority and responsibility for the regulation of the teaching profession in Ireland including the registration of teachers in the State.
The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The Council registers teachers under five routes of registration namely, Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.
In accordance with EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the mutual recognition of qualifications (as amended), the Teaching Council is the competent authority in Ireland for assessing applications for registration from persons recognised as teachers in other EU/ EEA countries. Applicants must meet the criteria as set out in the Teaching Council [Registration] Regulations 2016. All applications for registration from teachers who qualified outside of the EU/EEA are assessed on an individual basis.
Once the Council has received an eligible application, one that can provide evidence of full registration (recognition) and induction in the country in which the person obtained their qualification, alongside evidence of qualifications, and meet registration requirements such as language proficiency and vetting, the applicant will be successful in getting registered. Under child protection legislation, all those working with children and vulnerable people must hold appropriate vetting, which the Council facilitates for schools and teachers by including this as part of registration. If there are substantial differences in training, following assessment of the application, compensation measures (shortfalls) can be identified. These shortfalls are applied as conditions on the teacher’s registration record.
The EU Directive provides a 12- week timeframe for assessment for an important purpose, to enable a full and proper assessment of an applicant’s qualifications, teaching experience and lifelong learning. This is important from a standards perspective. It is the Council’s responsibility to ensure that all teachers entering the profession in Ireland have met the required standards. The Council is legally bound to assess within 12 weeks and operates as efficiently as possible within that timeframe.
The average processing timelines for the assessment of qualifications from primary and post-primary teachers who qualified outside of the Republic of Ireland is 4 weeks for primary teachers and 8 weeks for post-primary teachers. (Please note that post-primary applications require at least two separate assessments: teacher education and subject content.). The processing time begins from the receipt of all application documentation. These processing times are published on the Teaching Council website. The Teaching Council website at the published timeframes information also advises that teachers apply at least 12 weeks in advance of their return (or commencement of) teaching, to include sufficient time for vetting also.
The Council receives an average of 600 applications per year from teachers who qualify outside of the Republic of Ireland. Cognisant of the need to always improve efficiencies, the Council continuously monitors and reviews the qualifications assessment processes.
